What we learned: Celtics-Cavaliers

With a little over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the game no longer in doubt, a demonstrative Kevin Garnett huddled with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Sam Cassell on the Celtics bench. The topic: how to get the team out of the worst funk The Big Three have experienced in their 1½ years together. "We were trying to work things out," Cassell said. "Trying to regroup. We're tired of talking about it. This [(expletive] is getting old now. We're tired of excuses. This is what we have in our locker room right here. Hakeem...read full article

NBA: Cleveland 98, Boston 83

LeBron James, responding to the challenge posed by the defending NBA champions, scored 38 points Friday in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers past Boston 98-83. It was the fourth time this season James has scored at least 38 and it came in one of the highlight contests to date in the NBA season. Boston appeared headed for the best record in the Eastern Conference this year when it put together a franchise-record 19-game winning streak, but the Celtics have lost seven times in their lasts nine outings. This was their fourth straight setback. Cleveland...read full article

Pumped-up LeBron James leads Cavaliers over Celtics

For days, LeBron James insisted that facing the NBA champions in January was no ordinary regular-season game. He and the Cleveland Cavaliers proved it Friday night, beating the Boston Celtics, 98-83, in a game filled with playoff-like intensity. James scored 38 points, harassed Paul Pierce all over the floor and continued to make his case for the league's most valuable player as the Cavaliers improved to 19-0. James scored 23 in the second half. He added seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks. After the Cavaliers had built their lead to...read full article

Celtics, Cavaliers ready to rumble

As little LeBron James Jr. practiced writing his name on the dry-erase board in Cleveland's locker room, his famous father was busy a few feet away. The Boston Celtics were on the flatscreen TV and LeBron James was watching them, studying them, breaking them down. Stepping away from his work, the youngster examined his penmanship. "Daddy, my 'n' looks like a 'w'," he said. On Friday night, his father wouldn't mind seeing a different 'W.' The Cavaliers, owners of the Eastern Conference's best record and the league's only unbeaten team at home, will host...read full article